Forensics; Semester 1 Exam Study Guide

Circumstantial Evidence

(indirect evidence) evidence used to imply a fact but not prove it directly

Circumstantial evidence

(indirect evidence) evidence used to imply a fact but not prove it directly

IAFIS

FBI-developed national database of more than 76 million criminal fingerprints and criminal histories

Blood type when rH factors are included are examples of individual evidence. (T or F)

False

The Coppolino Case resulted in the trial judge being able to decide if expert testimony should be allowed in a trial.(T or F)

False

Sir Edward Richard Henry

In 1896, Henry developed a fingerprint identification system that categorized fingerprints by whorl, loop, or arch pattern (see Figure 1-4). His system allowed prints to be filed, traced, and searched against other prints.

Locard's Exchange Principle

In forensic science, Locard's exchange principle holds that the perpetrator of a crime will bring something into the crime scene and leave with something from it, and that both can be used as forensic evidence.

Observations

Information gathered by noticing facts and occurrences using your five senses.

Edmond Locard

Locard was the founder of the Institute of Criminalistics at the University of Lyon in Lyon, France. The Institute of Criminalistics is considered to be the flagship university in the field of forensic science. He is most prominently remembered for his cross transfer principle known as Locard's exchange principle , which states that whenever two pieces of evidence come in contact with each other, there is always an exchange of materials.

Fibers from a dress are an example of class evidence. (T or F)

True

For science to be used in a court of law, it needs to be true and at least 25 years old.(T or F)

True

Miranda rights inform the suspect of their constitutional rights.(T or F)

True

Direct Evidence

evidence that (if true) proves an alleged fact, such as an eyewitness account of a crime

Direct evidence

evidence that (if true) proves an alleged fact, such as an eyewitness account of a crime

Fingerprints are formed deep within the dermis layer of the skin. (T or F)

false

Fingerprints are generally considered to be a form of class evidence. (T or F)

false

Fingerprints of the left hand are mirror images of the fingerprints on the right hand.(T or F)

false

Good observation skills come naturally to investigators; they do not need to be trained. (T or F)

false

If we remember seeing something happen, we can trust that it happened just as we think it did. (T or F)

false

It is necessary to obtain a full print from a suspect in order to compare his fingerprint with a fingerprint found at the crime scene. (T or F)

false

Plastic prints must be dusted or treated in order to identify the ridge patterns.(T or F)

false

The First Amendment guarantees us to a fair and speedy trial by our peers.(T or F)

false

The Innocence Project is an organization that seeks to get convicted killers out of prison.(T or F)

false

The type of powder used to dust prints will vary depending upon the weather conditions when the print is lifted.(T or F)

false

The recorder at the crime scene needs to work with all of the police personnel at the crime scene. What type of information would the recorder need to obtain from each of the following persons?

first responding officer-The people who enter and the people who came out of the crime scene, the time when they arrived at the crime scene happened and where it happen also identified the victim photographer-A ruler, a list of the items and evidence label sketch artist-The measurements of the room a compass for orientation evidence collection team-Record the time and place for the evidence that was collected and where it was found

Karl Landsteiner

he discovered blood groups. His ABO system of blood typing is still used today. In forensics, blood typing can be used to narrow the list of possible suspects. Landsteiner received the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1930 for this discovery.

The use of fingerprints in identification is not perfect because

humans make mistakes

Analytical Skills

the ability to identify a concept or problem, to isolate its component parts, to organize information for decision making, to establish criteria for evaluation, and to draw appropriate conclusions

Chain of Custody

the documented and unbroken transfer of evidence

First Responder

the first safety official to arrive at a crime scene

Primary Crime-Scene

the location where the crime took place

Ridge Count

the number of ridges between the center of a delta and the core of a loop

Perception

the process of organizing and interpreting sensory information, enabling us to recognize meaningful objects and events

ridge pattern

the recognizable pattern of the ridges found in the end joints of fingers that form lines on the surfaces of objects in a fingerprint. They fall into three categories: arches, loops, and whorls

Triangulation

the use of multiple methods to study one research question

Fingerprints are a result of oil and secretions from skin mixing with dirt.(T or F)

true

It is important to always photograph a fingerprint before you attempt to lift It.(T or F)

true

Locard's Exchange Principle states that whenever two pieces of evidence come in contact with each other there is always an exchange of materials.(T or F)

true

Similar print or ridge patterns can also be found on the toes.(T or F)

true

The Frye and Daubert cases both recognized that science if always changing and the evidence submitted to courts will as well. (T or F)

true

The word forensic refers to the application of scientific knowledge to legal questions, (T or F)

true

lAFIS improves the speed and accuracy of fingerprint searches because it electronically accesses fingerprints from local, state, and national agencies.(T or F)

true

Summarize methods used by forensic scientists to ensure that no evidence is overlooked.

•look at the area systematically, examining all areas•view everything, do not prejudge what is significant and what is not•gather all info and evidence•take photos, sketches and document all evidence

Fingerprints are formed

During fetal development in the womb (10 weeks)

Logical

(adj.) reasonable; making use of reason and good sense

Correct collection of evidence requires

Documenting the location where the evidence was found Correct packaging of evidence Maintaining proper chain of custody

James Watson and Francis Crick

1953. Built first accepted DNA model explaining specific structure and properties of DNA.

Opinion

A personal view, attitude, or appraisal.

A crime-scene sketch should include what

A scale of distance, date and location of the crime scene, a North heading on the diagram

Describe why two people might perceive a crime scene in different ways.

A situation where two different people might perceive a crime scene in different ways can depend on their level of interest, stress, concentration, and the amount and kind of distraction that may be in present.

Fact

A statement that can be proved.

Frye Standard

A test to determine the admissibility of scientific evidence.

Physical Evidence

Any object that can establish that a crime has been committed or can link a crime and its victim or its perpetrator.

Outline the steps in taking a ridge count from a fingerprint.

Find a delta in the print and circle it and then find the core and circle it. Then draw a line connecting the core and the delta. Then count from the core to the delta and you got yourself a ridge count.

Calvin Goddard

Goddard's interest in firearms led him to work for the Bureau of Forensic Ballistics in New York City in 1925. While working there, he invented the comparison microscope. The comparison microscope has since become an essential tool necessary for firearms examination.

Mathieu Orfilia

Orfila is often referred to as the father of toxicology. In 1812, he published a dissertation on the detection of poisons and their effects on animals. This work made toxicology an accredited scientific standard.

Albert Osborn

Osborn was widely regarded as an expert in document forgery. Initially, a questioned document was any handwritten or typed document or signature whose source was unknown or that needed to be authenticated for the purpose of a criminal investigation. Today, document examiners also study erasures, obliterations, physical characteristics of paper,watermarks, and impressions.

Fingerprints that are actual indentations left in some soft material such as clay or putty are referred to as

Patent fingerprints

The reason it is important to separate the witnesses at the crime scene is to

Prevent The eye witnesses from talking to each other

Class Characteristics

Properties of evidence that can be associated only with a group and never with a single source.

Forensic Science

The application of scientific knowledge to questions of civil and criminal law.

Briefly describe what can be detected by observing facial expressions.

What could be detected by observing facial expressions is if they notice their surroundings. if a person looks happy, upset, or sad, they probably would be too distracted by how they are feeling to notice others. If a person is relaxed, they are probably aware of what's going on around them.

Rosalind Franklin

Woman who generated x-ray images of DNA, she povided Watson and Crick with key data about DNA

Is it possible to alter fingerprints?

Yes, fingerprints may be altered. John Dillinger tried to alter his but he essentially made his prints more unique.

Loop

a fingerprint pattern in which the ridge pattern flows inward and returns in the direction of the origin

Whorl

a fingerprint pattern that resembles a bull's-eye

Paper Bindle

a folded paper used to hold trace evidence

Ten Card

a form used to record and preserve a person's fingerprints

Latent Fingerprint

a hidden fingerprint made visible through the use of powders or other techniques

Crime-Scene Reconstruction

a hypothesis of the sequence of events from before the crime was committed through its commission

Individual Evidence

a kind of evidence that identifies a particular person or thing

Individual evidence

a kind of evidence that identifies a particular person or thing

Secondary Crime-Scene

a location other than the primary crime scene, but that is in some way related to the crime, where evidence is found

Crime-Scene Investigation

a multidisciplinary approach in which scientific and legal professionals work together to solve a crime

Datum Point:

a permanent, fixed point of reference used in mapping a crime scene

Eyewitness

a person who has seen someone or something and can communicate these facts

The presence of two deltas in a fingerprint indicate

a plain whorl

Plastic Fingerprint

a three-dimensional fingerprint made in soft material such as clay, soap, or putty

Patent Fingerprint

a visible fingerprint that happens when fingers with blood, ink, or some other substance on them touch a surface and transfer the pattern of their fingerprint to that surface

Fingerprint

an impression left on any surface that consists of patterns made by the ridges on a finger

Locard's Principle of Exchange

basic forensic theory that objects that come in contact with each other always transfer material, however minute, to each other

Alec Jeffreys

in 1984, he invented DNA fingerprinting, a process that identifies variable regions on the DNA. These variable regions make the DNA of each individual, except for identical twins, unique. DNA fingerprinting has had a profound effect on criminal investigations. This technique allows investigators to match blood and other biological samples left behind at crime scenes to a suspect. A DNA match provides compelling evidence at trial.

The Innocence Project found that most faulty convictions were based on

inaccurate eyewitness accounts

Blood type is considered to be class evidence. Although it may not specifically identify the suspect, explain how it still could be useful In helping to investigate a crime.

it narrows down the suspect list

A forensic scientist is called to a court of law to provide

judgement

Class Evidence

material that connects an individual or thing to a certain group

Class evidence

material that connects an individual or thing to a certain group

Reference Sample

physical evidence whose origin is known, such as blood or hair from a suspect, that can be compared to crime-scene evidence

Individual Characteristics

properties of evidence that can be attributed to a common source with an extremely high degree of certainty

Deductive Reasoning

reasoning in which a conclusion is reached by stating a general principle and then applying that principle to a specific case (The sun rises every morning; therefore, the sun will rise on Tuesday morning.)

Alphonse Bertillon

recognized for developing the first method of criminal identification. In 1879, he established a method called anthropometry using 11 bodily measurements. For 20 years, this system, also known as Bertillonage, was the most precise method of personal identification.

Forensic

relating to the application of scientific knowledge to legal questions

Trace Evidence

small but measurable amounts of physical or biological material found at a crime scene

Minutiae

small or trivial details, trifling matters